GRAND TRUNK TRAIL:
BRIMFIELD-STURBRIDGE-SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
TROLLEY LINE TRAIL:
BRIMFIELD-STURBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
LAKE SIOG PASS:
BRIMFIELD-HOLLAND, MASSACHUSETTS
HERITAGE TRAIL:
SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
TREK STURBRIDGE TRAILS:
STURBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
-BIKE IT OR HIKE IT-
Letterbox Planted: May 11, 2005
Last Updated: July 20, 2025
Length: Trolley Line Trail; Brimfield; 2.8 miles.
Trolley Line & Grand Trunk Trails Loop; Brimfield; 5.9 mile Loop.
Lake Siog Pass Trail/Holland Connector; Brimfield; 1.8 miles
Trolley Line Trail: Trek Sturbridge; 0.5 miles
Grand Trunk Trail: Trek Sturbridge; Riverlands Section; 0.8 mile Loop
Trek Sturbridge; Leadmine Mountain/Heins Farm; Western Section: Combined Trails Loop; 1.5 mile Loop
Trek Sturbridge; Leadmine Mountain; Western Section: Combined Trails Loop; 2.3 mile Loop
Trek Sturbridge; Leadmine Mountain; Eastern Section; Combined Trails Loop; 3.5 mile Loop
Grand Trunk Trail: Trek Sturbridge; Westville Dam Section; 3.2 miles
Westville Community Trail; Southbridge; Westville Dam Section; 1.1 miles
Westville Community Trail & Grand Trunk Trail Loop: Southbridge & Sturbridge; Westville Dam Section; 1.9 mile Loop
Southbridge Heritage Trail; 1.4 to 1.6 mile Loop
Difficulty: Trolley Line & Grand Trunk Trails Loop; Brimfield; Flat rail trail with a mostly stone-dust surface and some hard packed dirt w/tree roots.
Lake Siog Pass Trail/Holland Connector; Brimfield; Easy. Relatively flat trail along an old paved/dirt road. Other sections consist of stone-dust.
Trolley Line Trail: Trek Sturbridge; Easy. Flat rail trail with a crushed gravel surface. Short hill up to the dam.
Grand Trunk Trail: Trek Sturbridge; Riverlands Section; Mostly flat, with some small knolls. Crushed gravel & hard packed dirt surfaces.
Trek Sturbridge; Leadmine Mountain; Western Section: Combined Trails Loop; Moderate-Difficult. Hard packed dirt, grass, gravel surfaces with a long hill.
Trek Sturbridge; Leadmine Mountain/Heins Farm; Western Section: Combined Trails Loop:
Pond Loop Trail; Easy. Crushed gravel trail w/slight hills.
Stafford Turnpike Trail; Moderate. Hard packed dirt, rock, gravel & grass surface w/slight hills.
Trek Sturbridge; Leadmine Mountain; Eastern Section; Combined Trails Loop; Easy to moderate. Mostly crushed gravel trail with some steep hills.
Grand Trunk Trail: Trek Sturbridge; Westville Dam Section; Easy. Wide crushed gravel rail trail w/a slight hill.
Westville Community Trail; Southbridge; Westville Dam Section; Moderate. Hilly, crushed gravel surface.
Southbridge Heritage Trail; Easy-Moderate. Stone-dust surface & boardwalks with one hill climb. Loop; Moderate. Narrow hard packed dirt trail has some rocks and roots and hill climb.
Directions:
To start from the Westville
To start from the East Brimfield Dam parking lot in Sturbridge for the Trolley Line Trail: Trek Sturbridge [Western End]; From I-84 take exit 3B to Route 20 west in Sturbridge. Travel 2.4 miles and turn left on Riverview Ave. Follow to parking lot.
To start from the Route 20 parking lot in Brimfield for the Trolley Line Trail & Grand Trunk Trail [Western End]; From I-84 take exit 6B to Route 20 west in Sturbridge. Travel 5.7 miles. The parking lot is on the left.
To start from the Pond Bridge Road parking lot in Holland for the Lake Siog Pass Trail [Southern End]; From I-84 take exit 6B to Route 20 west in Sturbridge. Travel 3.5 miles to E Brimfield Holland Rd and turn left. After 1.9 miles turn right on Morse Rd. Quickly turn left on Morse Lane, then right on Pond Bridge Rd. The parking lot is on the right before the bridge.
To start from the Stallion Hill Road parking lot in Sturbridge for the Trek Sturbridge; Riverlands Section & Grand Trunk Trail [Eastern End]; From I-84 take exit 6B to Route 20 west in Sturbridge. Travel 0.5 miles and turn left on Stallion Hill Rd. Travel 0.4 miles, parking lot on the right.
To start from the Leadmine Road parking lot #1 in Sturbridge for the Trek Sturbridge Trails; Leadmine Mt; Western Section; From I-84 take exit 6B to Route 20 west in Sturbridge. Travel 0.5 miles and turn left on Stallion Hill Rd. Follow to Leadmine Rd and travel 0.5 miles to parking lot on your left.
To start from the Shattuck Road/Old Sturbridge Road parking lots in Sturbridge for the Trek Sturbridge Trails; Leadmine Mt; Eastern Section; From I-84:
Northbound; Exit 5 to River Rd and head left to Shattuck Rd/Old Sturbridge Rd. Left leads to the Shattuck Road parking lot on your right. Right leads to the Old Sturbridge Road parking lot on your left.
Southbound; Exit 5 to Old Sturbridge Rd. Left leads to the Shattuck Road parking lot on your right. Right leads to the Old Sturbridge Road parking lot #2 on your left.
Brimfield Section:
The Trolley Line Trail follows an old trolley rail bed, once used by the Springfield & Eastern Street Railway, which used to operate between Springfield and Fiskdale (Sturbridge). In Brimfield it travels Southeast, where it soon parallels the Grand Trunk Trail, which follows the rail bed of the old Grand Trunk Railroad. The Southern New England Railway was a project of the Grand Trunk Railway to build a RR from Palmer South and East, to Providence in 1910. Most work stopped in 1912, except in MA, where, by 1916, almost all the grading was completed. However, the RR was soon abandoned. Both trails then travel Northeast, although only the Trolley Line Trail is complete. Both Trails are located on U.S. Army Corp of Engineers land, along the Quinebaug River flood control area. Because both trails parallel each other it creates a nice Loop. The Lake Siog Pass Trail/Holland Connector is a Spur Trail that takes you South, from the Trolley Line & Grand Trunk Trails to Holland Pond, which is also located on U.S. Army Corp of Engineers land. Here you'll also find the start of the Quinebaug River Canoe Trail . A GAP exists between Brimfield & Sturbridge, where another section of the Trolley Line Trail continues.
Sturbridge Section:
A section of the Trolley Line Trail, located in Fiskdale (West Section of Sturbridge), travels East, from the East Brimfield Dam. A GAP exists East, to another section of the Grand Trunk Trail, which starts next to Old Sturbridge Village and heads West. Both of these trails are maintained by TREK STURBRIDGE , which maintains trails throughout Sturbridge and are included here. Another GAP exists South, where I believe the old rail bed is no longer viable through Old Sturbridge Village. Past here, the Trek Sturbridge Trails are located along the Western Side of I-84 and are part of the Leadmine Mt Conservation Area & Heins Farm Conservation Area. The trails consist of 2 types; Multi-use and Mt bike. I only describe the multi-use trails. To the West, are the Leadmine Mt/Heins Farm Trails; Western Section, where multiple Trails form Loops of various length. The Leadmine Mt Trails; Eastern Section are located closer to I-84 and also form multiple Loops. Both sections are connected by several less developed trails.
Sturbridge/Southbridge Section:
Along the Eastern Side of I-84, another section of the Trek Sturbridge; Grand Trunk Trail travels South, following the Quinebaug River, before continuing Northeast, through the Westville Lake Recreation Area, which is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The park includes athletic fields, a picnic pavilion, grills and a boat launch. The Grand Trunk Trail travels along the Northern Side of Westville Lake, to the top of Westville Dam in Southbridge, where the Westville Community Trail travels Southwest, from the top of the Westville Dam, along the Southern Side of the Westville Lake. The Southbridge Heritage Trail also starts from the top of Westville Dam and travels East, down to and along the Southern Side of the Quinebaug River. It then Loops West, back to the top of the Westville Dam.
For more information visit; GRAND TRUNK TRAIL & STURBRIDGE TRAILS . In Southbridge, you can access the Quinebaug Valley Rail Trail . This trail is being extended Northwest, through town and is under construction in 2025. Future plans will connect this trail to Westville Dam.
BRIMFIELD SECTION:
Trolley Line Trail & Grand Trunk Trail Loop:
Trolley Line Trail:
Starting from the Route 20 parking lot in Brimfield [Western End]; Map Board. The Trolley Line Trail is complete the whole way Eastbound. On your return trip, Westbound, you can access portions of the Grand Trunk Trail, which is not complete, so you'll still utilize portions of the Trolley Line Trail. See Map Below.
Note; Heading West, future plans call for extending the Trolley Line Trail along the old rail bed to New Holland Rd.
The wide, stone-dust Trolley Line Trail travels Southeast, along the old rail bed, paralleling Route 20 for a bit. It travels through an area that was hit by the 2011 tornado that tore a path of destruction from Springfield to Sturbridge. Thick marsh along your right. Wood posts mark the Trolley Line Trail vs. Grand Trunk Trail.
Note; Short sections of the Grand Trunk Trail parallels along your right which you can Loop back along on your return.
After about a mile you enter open forest. At 1.3 miles you come to ***Five Bridges Road (dirt road).
Note; The Lake Siog Pass Trail/ Holland Connector heads right, Southwest, along ***Five Bridges Road. See Below.
Cross the road and continue straight along a causeway.
Note; To your right you'll spot the parallel Grand Trunk Trail which you can Loop back along on your return.
This section travels through wetlands along a small berm before the Trolley Line Trail & Grand Trunk Trail combine, bringing you to the Five Bridges Road parking lot after 1.6 miles. Here you'll find a Map Board, as well as, an informational sign board. The trails separate again, so bear left, just past the parking lot to rejoin the Trolley Line Trail. The trail travels Northeast, through wetlands, followed by a rock cut, before heading into the woods. Come to a ****Bridge over the Quinebaug River at 2.5 miles.
Note; To your right, just before the ****Bridge, a trail will take you down to the Grand Trunk Trail, where you can Loop Back. See; Return Trip; West Below.
Continuing East, across the ****Bridge over the Quinebaug River. The stone-dust Trolley Line Trail utilizes the old rail bed from both the Grand Trunk RR & Trolley Line RR. Pass a gate, traveling past the E Brimfield Holland Road parking lot and you'll come to E Brimfield Holland Rd after 2.8 miles.
Return Trip; West:
[Continuing Mileage West, from E Brimfield Holland Road] From the ****Bridge return along the berm to a path on your left. This will bring you down to the Grand Trunk Trail, which starts next to the Quinebaug River. This hard packed dirt & stone-dust trail follows the old rail bed Southwest, below the Trolley Line Trail. The trail surface is a bit rougher with some tree root issues as it travels within site of the river. After 3.4 miles you'll pass by a couple of benches alongside the Quinebaug River. This is Rest Stop #3, a pull-in for the Quinebaug River Canoe Trail. You then re-join the Trolley Line Trail for a ways. Take your second left after 3.7 miles just before the rock cut (wood posts mark the spurs) along a stone-dust trail through an open field. Here you'll find benches overlooking a large marsh. Very scenic. You then re-join the Grand Trunk Trail, which is also stone-dust and continue West, along a causeway, with the marsh along your left. You'll return to the Five Bridges Road parking lot after 4.1 miles where the two trails combine again. The trail quickly splits with the Trolley Line Trail bearing right. Continue straight, Northwest, along the Grand Trunk Trail which travels along a causeway. When you reach ***Five Bridges Road the trail bears right and re-joins the Trolley Line Trail. Head left up to ***Five Bridges Road at 4.5 miles.
Note; The Lake Siog Pass Trail/ Holland Connector heads left, Southwest, along ***Five Bridges Road. See Below.
Cross the road, back along the Trolley Line Trail and take your first left, along the Grand Trunk Trail. This section consists of a combination of both stone-dust and hard packed dirt & grass. You bear right off the old rail trail and rejoin the Trolley Line Trail at 5 miles. Head left to return to the Route 20 parking lot after a 5.9 mile Loop.
Lake Siog Pass Trail/Holland Connector:
Starting from ***Five Bridges Road; Travel Southwest, on-road (low volume) along this dirt road. A large marsh is along your right. Cross over Mill Brook at 0.2 miles, then look for a yellow gate on your left at 0.4 miles. Turn left and follow the paved Old Holland Rd (abandoned) South. After 0.6 miles turn left, Southeast, along abandoned Morse Rd (across from a large field). This section is stone-dust except for a short hard packed dirt & grass surface. After a mile you'll come to an intersection.
Note; Left, North, takes you along the Curtis Island Loop. Follow the hard packed dirt and grass trail around the edge of the island. You'll pass by an informational sign before coming to a path on your left that leads down to Rest Stop #1, a pull-in for the Quinebaug River Canoe Trail. Benches and a fire pit here. A path on your left takes you to a beaver dam where the Mill Brook enter the river. Nice views of the marsh. The trail then follows the river back out to old Morse Rd after a 0.3 mile Loop.
Continue straight, over a slight hill, passing by the Loop exit for Curtis Island Loop and you'll cross an old bridge over the Quinebaug River. Here the trail reverts to old pavement. Very scenic floodplain. After passing another yellow gate you travel on-road, along Morse Rd (residential). After 1.5 miles, just before a gray house on your right, you'll pick up the stone-dust trail again to the right. This wooded lane brings you to Holland Pond in Holland after 1.8 miles. Here you'll find the Pond Bridge Road parking lot, Map Board and Porto-Potty, along with, the start of the Quinebaug River Canoe Trail.
STURBRIDGE SECTION:
Trolley Line Trail:
Starting from the Holland Road parking area [Eastern End]; Travel West, past the yellow gate, along the crushed gravel Trolley Line Trail. This is part of the old Trolley Line rail bed. You start out along a high berm with the Quinebaug River below to your left. After passing through a cut you come to an old RR bridge abutment at 0.3 miles with a bench overlooking the river below. The trail leaves the old rail bed and travels right, North, up a slight hill with views of the East Brimfield Dam up to your left. Just past some maintenance buildings a paved road brings you to the top of the dam after 0.5 miles. Here you'll find informational boards (The dam was built in 1960 and is 520' long). You can also travel over the top of the dam to view the spillway.
Grand Trunk Trail; Trek Sturbridge; Riverlands Section:
[These Trails are consistently being upgraded with crushed gravel, so conditions described below are subject to change]
Grand Trunk Trail:
Starting from the Stallion Hill Road parking lot [Eastern End]; Map Board located here, along with a BIKE STATION. From the Map Board the Grand Trunk Trail (Red Trail) travels both East & West.
Heading East; The Grand Trunk Trail (Red Trail) travels right, North, from the Map Board to an intersection with the Brickyard Trail (Yellow Trail) and continues right, East, before quickly ending. Future plans will continue the trail East.
Heading West; The wide, stone-dust Grand Trunk Trail (Red Trail) enters the woods. Pass by the Brickyard Trail (Yellow Trail), followed by the River Walk Trail (Blue Trail), both on your right. After 0.3 miles the finished surface ends, as of July 2024, replaced with a hard packed dirt & grass surface (should be stone-dust in the future). You come to an intersection.
Note; Straight, South, is the Leadmine Trail (Orange Trail). This hard packed dirt & gravel trail travels uphill to both the Flow Trail #1 (Gray & Orange Mt Bike Trail) and Cistern Trail (Gray Mt Bike Trail).
Turn right and soon come to a cul-de-sac. I believe the old rail bed continues straight, but is overgrown. If you travel up the small knoll, it will bring you to an ^Intersection at 0.5 miles.
Note; Left, Southwest, are the Flow Trail #2 (Gray & Blue Mt Bike Trail) & Flow Trail #3 (Gray & Red Mt Bike Trail). These are the ends of both trails, which are one-way and begin from the Cistern Trail (Gray Mt Bike Trail). See; Riverlands Map Below.
River Walk Trail:
Straight from the ^Intersection is the start of the River Walk Trail (Blue Trail). This narrow, stone-dust trail, takes you above the Quinebaug River.
Note; I believe this is the location where plans are underway, in 2025, to construct a trail and bridge, North, over the Quinebaug River to Main St (Route 20). No work has begun, as of July 2025. See; Map Below. I believe the Map below is upside down, with North on the bottom.
The trail then travels Northwest, above the Quinebaug River, before Looping back to the Grand Trunk Trail. Continue left, East, back along the Grand Trunk Trail. Come to the Brickyard Trail (Yellow Trail) on your left.
Brickyard Trail:
Follow the narrow, hard packed dirt & stone-dust Brickyard Trail (Yellow Trail) East, up above the Quinebaug River. Cross a narrow ridge (Caution with small kids on bikes), before traveling down to an intersection. Just before this intersection, spot the piles of red bricks (I imagine from an old mill that utilized the river, thus the trails name). The Grand Trunk Trail (Red Trail) continues straight. Head right back to the Map Board and Stallion Hill Road parking lot after an 0.8 mile Loop.
Trek Sturbridge; Leadmine Mountain/Heins Farm; Western Section:
Pond Loop Trail-Cabin Loop Trail-Stafford Turnpike Trail: Combined Loop:
[These Trails are consistently being upgraded with crushed gravel, so conditions described below are subject to change]
Starting from the Northern End of the Leadmine Road parking lot; The narrow, crushed gravel Pine Loop Trail heads North, into the woods. Steep drop off along your right. Slight hills. Cross Leadmine Rd at 0.3 miles, where the trail turns South, as you enter Heins Farm Conservation Area. You'll quickly pass by an overlook of a marsh along your right. Slight uphill grade. Travel through an evergreen forest. Very scenic. Come to an intersection at 0.6 miles.
Note; Left, back across Leadmine Rd, returns you to the parking lot.
Travel right, North, along the Stafford Turnpike Trail. Some slight hills. Pass by the Old Sturbridge Ferry Village on your right, before crossing a bridge and coming to an intersection at 0.8 miles. This is the Stafford Turnpike Loop Trail. I continued right, which brought me to another intersection. Here I headed right, along the rough, narrow, hard packed dirt, rock and tree roots Cabin Loop Trail. This trail follows a knoll, out into the marsh, before Looping back to the Stafford Turnpike Loop Trail at 1.1 miles. Continue right, West, along the hard packed dirt, rock and grass trail. Cross a small bridge before a boardwalk takes you along an open field. Come to a grass trail at 1.2 miles. This was as far as I traveled.
Note; Here the Stafford Turnpike Trail Loops around a field. However, I skipped this section because thick grass makes for tough biking.
I then returned South, back to and across Leadmine Road to the parking lot after a 1.5 mile Loop.
Trek Sturbridge; Leadmine Mountain; Western Section:
Pine Lands Trail-Leadmine Trail; Combined Loop:
[These Trails are consistently being upgraded with crushed gravel, so conditions described below are subject to change]
Starting from the Southern End of the Leadmine Road parking lot; Map Board to your right. Heading past the gate, the wide, hard packed dirt, gravel & rock Pine Lands Trail heads South, downhill to an intersection.
Note; This is the center of the Pine Lands Trail, which travels North-South.
I headed right, South, down a long hill. Cross a bridge and come to an intersection at 0.3 miles.
Note; This is the center of the Leadmine Trail, which travels North-South.
I traveled right, South, along this mostly flat, wide, hard packed dirt, gravel, rock & tree roots trail. Cross a small bridge over a brook before the trail gets rough, as of July 2024, as it ascends a hill at 0.5 miles. This was as far as I traveled. I returned back to the Southern End of the Pine Lands Trail intersection and continued North, along the Leadmine Trail. Come to the Northern End of the Pine Lands Trail at 1.1 miles. I continued North, along the Leadmine Trail, which becomes grassier and rougher, as of July 2024. Come to the Northern End of the Leadmine Trail at 1.5 miles. This is the start of the Mt Laurel Trail. This was as far as I traveled. I returned back to the Northern End of the Pine Lands Trail intersection and traveled right, across a bridge. The Pine Lands Trail gradually travels South, up hill, before it steepens, returning you to the Leadmine Road parking lot after a 2.3 mile Loop.
Leadmine Mountain; Eastern Section:
Arbutus Park Trail-Old Growth Trail-Morgan Trail-Camp Robinson Crusoe Trail; Combined Loop:
[These Trails are consistently being upgraded with crushed gravel, so conditions described below are subject to change]
Starting from the Old Sturbridge Road parking lot #2; Starting from the Map Board. Exit the parking lot and pick up the crushed gravel, Arbutus Park Trail on your left, past the wooden fence. The trail travels South, through the evergreen forest. Come to an intersection for the Old Growth Trail on your right. I traveled North, across a bridge over Hamant Brook, along this hard packed dirt & gravel trail. This brought me to an overlook of a marsh. Return to the Arbutus Park Trail and continue South, to another intersection at 0.4 miles.
Note; This is the start of the Arbutus Park Loop Trail.
I headed right, North, across another 2 bridges over Hamant Brook. Travel past an open field on your left and the marsh on your right. Turn West, up a slight hill back into the woods. Solar fields on your right. Trail then turns South, again, as it winds through the woods. Short steep hill, followed by a long gradual hill. Crest the hill then head down to an intersection at 1.1 miles. I followed the wide, crushed gravel 7 Ridges Trail South. The trail then turns to hard packed dirt, with tree roots. Come to a hill climb, with a rough surface, as of July 2024, at 1.4 miles. This was as far as I traveled. I returned to the Arbutus Park Loop Trail and continued right, South. You quickly pass by a small Rock Maze on your right. Cross a bridge over Hamant Brook, where the trail turns North, alongside a pond, which eventually becomes marsh, through an evergreen forest. Pass by a tee-pee in the woods along your right, before coming to the Camp Robinson Crusoe Trail on your right.
Note; The Camp Robinson Crusoe Trail leads to the Shattuck Road parking lot.
Continuing North, along the Arbutus Park Loop Trail and come to another intersection at 2.2 miles.
Note; Right will take you to the Morgan Trail.
Continuing North, along the Arbutus Park Loop Trail you'll pass by an overlook on your left of the marsh. This was the former site of the Middle Pond Dam, which was removed. Informational signs here. Continuing, you'll soon return to the Arbutus Park Trail, which takes you back to the Old Sturbridge Road parking lot #2 after 2.6 miles. You may continue your trek by traveling South, through the parking lot, past the gate, along the wide, crushed gravel Morgan Trail. Flat, open wooded trail. Come to an intersection at 3 miles.
Note; Right, West, will take you along the Camp Robinson Crusoe Trail, back to the Arbutus Park Loop Trail.
Head left, North, along an old paved road, up a short hill, to the Shattuck Road parking lot at 3.1 miles. Map Board. You can then exit the parking lot and travel left, North, on-road (low traffic) along Shattuck Rd, which becomes Old Sturbridge Rd, returning to the Old Sturbridge Road parking lot #2 after a 3.5 mile Loop.
STURBRIDGE/SOUTHBRIDGE SECTION:
Grand Trunk Trail, Westville Community Trail & Heritage Trail:
Starting from the *Westville Dam parking lot [Northeastern End]:
A signboard is located in the parking lot above the dam. From here you can access all 3 trails; Grand Trunk Trail, Westville Community Trail & Heritage Trail. If you start down the Westville Community Trail you can Loop back, along the Grand Trunk Trail. The Heritage Trail also Loops back to the parking lot.
Westville Community Trail:
From
the signboard, travel through the parking lot to
the right of the Army Corps project office
past a yellow gate. The Westville
Community Trail travels South,
downhill along a crushed gravel trail that passes by an open birding area that includes an
Osprey platform (no nest when we were there,
however we did spot a Loon). There are informational signs located along the
trail. The trail then travels up a slight hill into the woods along a ridge above
the Eastern Side of Westville
Lake, before coming to a footbridge. Here the trail becomes steep and winding as
you make your way down to river level. At 0.7 miles you'll pass a yellow gate,
where you head right, West, on-road,
along Old
South St. This takes you across a causeway and over the Quinebaug
River past the **Westville
